Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Postcards from the Limestone Coast: Dartmoor, Victoria

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now. ~Chinese Proverb

Carved Cypress Tree in the Village Green

We darted across the South Australian border towards Dartmoor as soon as we heard of the Nursery Rhyme/Fairy Tale Cypress Tree. There are 38 characters carved in the old tree planted before World War II.

The carvings have been made by Kevin Gilders, a professional chainsaw carver/artist.


I'm sure you'll recognise many of them, as we did.



After a quick visit to the Village Dunny we left the Village Green and headed towards the main street of Dartmoor.


There is an avenue of trees which has been carved as a memorial to soldiers of the local area. Do have a read about the Avenue of Honour. I found it a wonderful opportunity to share with Ess about the times of war as we wandered along the avenue. She was particularly interested and asked many questions. It was somewhat of a paradox, we came to Dartmoor to enjoy seeing nursery rhymes and fairytales in carvings yet found ourselves immersed in conversation about some important real life issues.

Why were the trees not left alone you might be asking? As I did. It seems that arborists recommended the trees be cut down. They had been planted to commemorate those who had gone to war from the community around Dartmoor. Each tree was planted recognising the direction in which their home lay. I guess if a tree needs to be chopped down then this is a special way for the commemoration of these important people to continue.

Now tell me, which characters from which rhymes and tales did you see carved in the old cypress tree?

3 comments:

Beth Brawley Taylor said...

Amazing! Thank you for sharing pictures of those trees. Wow!

Homestay Mama said...

Well, I saw Snow White and the seven dwarves, Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf, and I think I saw Hickory, Dickery Dock, the mouse ran up the clock... and then there is Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water, and, Hey, Diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon, the little dog laughed to see such sport, and the dish ran away with the spoon. I also see Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick. Then I'm not certain but is that To Market, to market to buy a fat pig...? I'm also uncertain about this but it might be--The Emperor wears no clothes. And then there is the butcher, the baker, but where is the candlestick maker?

OK, that was most interesting and fun, too, but now it's late and I must get to bed!

shandora said...

cool, I know what a dunny is now, hihi! It kinda looks like a composting toilet (which I have in the house, and am fond of) love the pics!!!

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